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Revelers throw tomatoes on each other during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina Festival in Bunol, Spain. 9601280

Revelers throw tomatoes on each other during the world's biggest tomato fight at La Tomatina Festival in Bunol, Spain.

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Up to 45,000 people from all over the world descend on the small town near Valencia, Spain, each year. 9601280

Up to 45,000 people from all over the world descend on the small town near Valencia, Spain, each year.

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Approximately 100 tons of rotten and over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.9601280

Approximately 100 tons of rotten and over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.

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The weeklong festival kicks off on the last Wednesday in August, and includes music, parades, dancing, fireworks and food (other than tomatoes).9601280

The weeklong festival kicks off on the last Wednesday in August, and includes music, parades, dancing, fireworks and food (other than tomatoes).

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No one knows why Tomatina started, but one popular theory dates its origins to a parade back in 1944 or 1945 in which young men started a brawl and armed themselves with tomatoes from a nearby vegetable stand.9601280

No one knows why Tomatina started, but one popular theory dates its origins to a parade back in 1944 or 1945 in which young men started a brawl and armed themselves with tomatoes from a nearby vegetable stand.

Denis Doyle

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Banned by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco for lacking religious significance, the festival returned in the 1970s, and is in honor of the town's patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats (Mother of God of the Defenseless), a title of the Virgin Mary.9601280

Banned by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco for lacking religious significance, the festival returned in the 1970s, and is in honor of the town's patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats (Mother of God of the Defenseless), a title of the Virgin Mary.

flydime, wikimedia commons

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Around 11 a.m., the first event begins in the center of town, Plaza del Pueblo, where trucks have hauled in over 100,000 tomatoes.9601280

Around 11 a.m., the first event begins in the center of town, Plaza del Pueblo, where trucks have hauled in over 100,000 tomatoes.

flydime, wikimedia commons

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Officially, the fight begins after the palo jabón, a 2-story greased pole with a ham at the top -- although the festivities will start whether or not a climber knocks the prized ham off the pole.9601280

Officially, the fight begins after the palo jabón, a 2-story greased pole with a ham at the top -- although the festivities will start whether or not a climber knocks the prized ham off the pole.

flydime, wikimedia commons

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Shopkeepers use huge plastic covers on their storefronts in hopes of protecting them from the festival’s tomato-splashed aftermath.9601280

Shopkeepers use huge plastic covers on their storefronts in hopes of protecting them from the festival’s tomato-splashed aftermath.

flydime, wikimedia commons

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Tomatina lasts for exactly 1 hour, signaled by the firing of water cannons. Fire trucks then spray down the streets to flush away the tomato residue.9601280

Tomatina lasts for exactly 1 hour, signaled by the firing of water cannons. Fire trucks then spray down the streets to flush away the tomato residue.

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Matadors Prepare to Fight

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Each morning, 6 bulls run through the streets of Pamplona from their corral to the bullring, where, later in the afternoon, a bullfight completes the ritual. 9601280

Each morning, 6 bulls run through the streets of Pamplona from their corral to the bullring, where, later in the afternoon, a bullfight completes the ritual.

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San Fermin's Chupinazo

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Revelers are sprayed with water as they celebrate during the "Chupinazo," which marks the start of the San Fermin Festival in front of Pamplona's town hall with the launch of a firecracker. Tens of thousands of people pack the streets for the kick-off to Spain's most well-known fiesta. 9601280

Revelers are sprayed with water as they celebrate during the "Chupinazo," which marks the start of the San Fermin Festival in front of Pamplona's town hall with the launch of a firecracker. Tens of thousands of people pack the streets for the kick-off to Spain's most well-known fiesta.

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Parade of Gigantes y Cabezudos

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Each morning is celebrated with the parade of "gigantes y cabezudos" or "giants and big heads." The huge figures are more than 150 years old and roughly 13 feet tall. 9601280

Each morning is celebrated with the parade of "gigantes y cabezudos" or "giants and big heads." The huge figures are more than 150 years old and roughly 13 feet tall.

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The picador, on horseback, helps the matadors during the first stage of the bullfight. He uses a lance to prod the bull, causing the animal to straighten its charge toward the matador and lower its head to prepare it for the next stage of the fight. Multiple bullfights are performed throughout the days of the festival. 9601280

The picador, on horseback, helps the matadors during the first stage of the bullfight. He uses a lance to prod the bull, causing the animal to straighten its charge toward the matador and lower its head to prepare it for the next stage of the fight. Multiple bullfights are performed throughout the days of the festival.

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The Pena Voladora Parade

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On the first day of the festival, the Pena Voladora parade makes its way along Estafeta Street in Pamplona, Spain. 9601280

On the first day of the festival, the Pena Voladora parade makes its way along Estafeta Street in Pamplona, Spain.

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Woodchoppers Compete in the Aizkolaritza

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Woodchoppers carve tree trunks in the Aizkolaritza, a Basque wood-chopping competition that's just one of the many events during the San Fermin Festival. 9601280

Woodchoppers carve tree trunks in the Aizkolaritza, a Basque wood-chopping competition that's just one of the many events during the San Fermin Festival.

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Revelers in the Streets of Pamplona

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Festivalgoers hold up their red handkerchiefs, known as pañuelos, during opening day. 9601280

Festivalgoers hold up their red handkerchiefs, known as pañuelos, during opening day.

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Runners on Estafeta Street

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A fighting bull collides with runners along Estafeta Street during the San Fermin Festival. 9601280

A fighting bull collides with runners along Estafeta Street during the San Fermin Festival.

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Fireworks over Pamplona

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Fireworks mark the end of the festival's first day, before participants rest up for another day of running for their lives through the northern Spanish streets. 9601280

Fireworks mark the end of the festival's first day, before participants rest up for another day of running for their lives through the northern Spanish streets.

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Toro del Fuego

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A Toro del Fuego, or flaming bull, is run through the streets of Pamplona on the second day of the San Fermin Running of the Bulls, with kids and adults alike dodging the flying sparks. 9601280

A Toro del Fuego, or flaming bull, is run through the streets of Pamplona on the second day of the San Fermin Running of the Bulls, with kids and adults alike dodging the flying sparks.

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What started as a bet in 1970 between 2 friends has turned into a popular event unique to Australia. The Camel Cup is now an annual celebration held in Alice Springs with belly dancers, music, camel rides and, of course, camel races.9601280

What started as a bet in 1970 between 2 friends has turned into a popular event unique to Australia. The Camel Cup is now an annual celebration held in Alice Springs with belly dancers, music, camel rides and, of course, camel races.

Peter Carroll

Monkey Buffet Festival

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The Monkey Buffet Festival is held annually in an effort to grow tourism in Thailand. The festival includes giving fruits and vegetables to the local monkey population in the Lopburi province north of Bangkok.9601280

The Monkey Buffet Festival is held annually in an effort to grow tourism in Thailand. The festival includes giving fruits and vegetables to the local monkey population in the Lopburi province north of Bangkok.

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Pirate Festival

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One of Louisiana’s largest festivals, Contraband Days is also the oldest festival held in the city of Lake Charles. With close to 100 pirate-themed events, the festival lasts 12 days. 9601280

One of Louisiana’s largest festivals, Contraband Days is also the oldest festival held in the city of Lake Charles. With close to 100 pirate-themed events, the festival lasts 12 days.

www.monsoursphotography.com

Boryeong Mud Festival

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The Boryeong Mud Festival is an annual festival held in Boryeong, a town south of Seoul, South Korea to promote the medicinal and cosmetic qualities of town’s mud. The 2-week festival includes a mud pool, mud slides, mud prison, mud-skiing competitions and a market that sells cosmetics made from the mud.9601280

The Boryeong Mud Festival is an annual festival held in Boryeong, a town south of Seoul, South Korea to promote the medicinal and cosmetic qualities of town’s mud. The 2-week festival includes a mud pool, mud slides, mud prison, mud-skiing competitions and a market that sells cosmetics made from the mud.

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Matchmaking Festival

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The famous Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival draws over 20,000 people looking for love to the busy pubs of Ireland for the whole month of September. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll run into Willie Daly, Ireland's most famous matchmaker.9601280

The famous Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival draws over 20,000 people looking for love to the busy pubs of Ireland for the whole month of September. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll run into Willie Daly, Ireland's most famous matchmaker.

Andrew Whitacre, flickr

Battle of the Oranges

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The largest food fight in Italy, the Battle of the Oranges is held in the northern city of Ivrea. The origin of the orange-throwing tradition is unknown, especially since oranges don’t grow in the foothills of the Italian Alps and must be imported from Sicily. 9601280

The largest food fight in Italy, the Battle of the Oranges is held in the northern city of Ivrea. The origin of the orange-throwing tradition is unknown, especially since oranges don’t grow in the foothills of the Italian Alps and must be imported from Sicily.

Gio S.p.o.t.s, flickr

Haro Wine Festival

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Haro Wine Festival is held every summer in the town of Haro in northern Spain. After mass for patron saint San Pedro, the Batalla de Vino, or Battle of Wine, breaks out and wine is tossed from buckets until everyone is soaked and colored pink. 9601280

Haro Wine Festival is held every summer in the town of Haro in northern Spain. After mass for patron saint San Pedro, the Batalla de Vino, or Battle of Wine, breaks out and wine is tossed from buckets until everyone is soaked and colored pink.

Bigsus, Wikimedia Commons

El Colacho

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El Colacho, or the Baby Jumping Festival, dates back to 1620 and is held annually to celebrate the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi in the village of Castrillo de Murcia near Burgos, Spain. Men dressed as the devil jump over babies to cleanse them of original sin. 9601280

El Colacho, or the Baby Jumping Festival, dates back to 1620 and is held annually to celebrate the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi in the village of Castrillo de Murcia near Burgos, Spain. Men dressed as the devil jump over babies to cleanse them of original sin.

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Oaxaca Radish Festival

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Radishes are sculpted into everything from animals to saints at Oaxaca's annual Radish Festival. The festival is filled with music, traditional dancing and lots of food, including deep-fried doughnuts drenched in syrup. According to tradition, after eating, throw your plate over your shoulder and the number of pieces it breaks into dictates your fortune for the next year. 9601280

Radishes are sculpted into everything from animals to saints at Oaxaca's annual Radish Festival. The festival is filled with music, traditional dancing and lots of food, including deep-fried doughnuts drenched in syrup. According to tradition, after eating, throw your plate over your shoulder and the number of pieces it breaks into dictates your fortune for the next year.

Matthew Yglesias, flickr

Cheese Rolling at Cooper's Hill

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In England’s annual Cheese Rolling, a round of Double Gloucester cheese is let loose from the top of Cooper’s Hill and competitors race down the hill chasing it. Following the 200-year-old tradition, the first person to reach the finish line at the bottom of the hill wins the cheese. 9601280

In England’s annual Cheese Rolling, a round of Double Gloucester cheese is let loose from the top of Cooper’s Hill and competitors race down the hill chasing it. Following the 200-year-old tradition, the first person to reach the finish line at the bottom of the hill wins the cheese.

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Running of the Bulls

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The Running of the Bulls happens every year through the narrow streets of Pamplona during the festival of San Fermin. Hundreds of people run in front of 6 bulls and another 6 steers down a half-mile stretch, culminating in an afternoon bullfight. 9601280

The Running of the Bulls happens every year through the narrow streets of Pamplona during the festival of San Fermin. Hundreds of people run in front of 6 bulls and another 6 steers down a half-mile stretch, culminating in an afternoon bullfight.

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Thingyan Water Festival

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Thingyan is the Burmese New Year Water Festival during which the sprinkling of water was intended to metaphorically wash away one's sins of the previous year. The festival has grown into an annual water fight with revelers using garden hoses, water pistols and water balloons to douse other participants. 9601280

Thingyan is the Burmese New Year Water Festival during which the sprinkling of water was intended to metaphorically wash away one's sins of the previous year. The festival has grown into an annual water fight with revelers using garden hoses, water pistols and water balloons to douse other participants.

Ian Kerr, Wikimedia Commons

UFO Festival Roswell

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UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike flock to Roswell, NM, to celebrate one of the most debated incidents in history. The 3-day event includes a costume contest, a pet costume contest and an alien parade.9601280

UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike flock to Roswell, NM, to celebrate one of the most debated incidents in history. The 3-day event includes a costume contest, a pet costume contest and an alien parade.